Earthquake / East Japan 2011.3.11

2011年日本国内での最大のニュースは東日本大震災に異論はあるまい。震災の犠牲者の皆様には改めて哀悼の意を表したい。東日本の殆どの人が、人生で最大の地震体験をしたはずだ。またそれぞれの人々が震災に合った場所で様々な体験をしたに違いない。私もその一人であり、ここに2011年3月11日とその後の数日を記録しておく。私の体験は多くの被災者に比べると軽微の範囲であったかもしれない。さて地震発生当時である2011年3月11日午後2時46分、私は東京大崎にある会社のビルの10階に居た。別の部屋に居た私は、いつもと違う揺れが体を感じ部門のある部屋に戻った。部屋に入ると会社の仲間の殆どが机の下に隠れている光景に出くわし、ここで最大の揺れに遭遇する。誰もが動けずにいた。何分の揺れだったろうか、地震の第一波が終わり、直ぐにテレビ（NHK）をつけた。画面には見たこともない映像が広がり始めていた。

The Tohoku earthquake should be top news in 2011 here in Japan. I would like to express condolences to the victims of this earthquake disaster.　Almost everyone who is living in east Japan never had a big earthquake like this one in life before. So I think I should leave some records on that day and a few day after 3.11.  My experience thinks that it was slight compared with many disaster victims.　At 2:46 PM, Mar 11 in 2011, I was in office building in Osaki, but not at my desk. When I felt something I never felt before in a room in the building, I realized that it was bigger than I used to have. And I soon moved to my division room, most of my colleagues were staying under their desk. And I was saying in my brain that finally it comes. My colleagues could not move at all there. And we had felt something big during this time. I have no idea how long it was, but first wave had finished. We put TV on and saw something we never had seen before.

地震直後のオフィスの様子(3:15PM March11)　テレビでは大津波の情報が流れ始める。

Right after we had an earthquake. TV said we are going to have "HUGE TSUMANI" soon.

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地震直後の大崎駅周辺の様子(3:23PM March11)

At Osaki station,right after we had an earthquake.

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テレビでは信じられない津波の映像が映っていた(16:07PM 3.11)

Tsumani is coming all over north east coast.

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全ての鉄道がストップしたという情報を受け、自宅まで歩いて帰る人が都内の路上を埋める。この日500万人の帰宅困難者が発生したと言われている。写真は山手通りの様子である。車の渋滞は酷く全く動く気配は無かった。人々は黙々と歩き、パニックの兆候や略奪行為は全く見られなかった。こうした面は日本人として誇らしい部分だった。私は2時間程度で帰宅できたが、2月に痛めて治りかけていた右膝が悲鳴を上げ帰宅後は殆ど歩けなくなっていた。その後遺症は12月の現在に至るまでまだ残っている。(18:30PM March11)

We were an announcement that all of the railroads had been stopped. So we decided to walk home. And then those who walk and return to their home are coming all over on the street. It was estimated more than 5 million people are unable to return their home this day. But there is no chaos on the street. Everyone walks silently and there were no acts, such as panic and pillage. I was proud these acts as a Japanese during this disaster. One of my colleagues walked about 8 hours to be back home. I took 2 hours to be back. Since I hurt the right knee on February, my right knee was screaming and unable to walk when I got my home.

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山手通りと駒沢通りの交差点にあるガソリンスタンドは、写真のような震災対応をしていた。彼等の心意気に感心した。

Some staff of a gas station gave people on the street information to use its toilet for free. And they were also showing people estimating time to be principal stations. I was really admired them.

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帰宅時に立ち寄ったコンビニエンスストアーの様子。20時の時点で写真のような状態だった。

The situation of a convenience store where dropped in at the time of going home. This photograph was taken at 20:00.

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夜になっても余震が多く、ニュースの映像は悲惨を極めていた。（March11）

We had many after shocks during the night. TV showed me awful sights over and over. I put some goods for refuge by my side.

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March　12

朝刊は地震の報道一色。

The earthquake disaster is all over in the morning paper.

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March　14

近所のスーパーマーケットに多くの客が殺到していた。

Many visitors were thronging into the neighboring supermarket.

 

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東横線渋谷駅は入場制限を始めていた。

Tohyoko Line Shibuya Station had begun restricted admission.

 

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March　15

福島原発事故の影響で電気使用の制限のため電車が少なくなり、JR目黒駅は入場が困難になっていた。

The train decreased under the influence of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster for restriction of electric use, and, as for JR Meguro Station, entrance was difficult.

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近所のスーパーから物が消えた。

Goods are gone at  the neighboring supermarket.

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March　17-19

福島原発事故の影響で節電対応となる。

Under the influence of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster for restriction of electric use.

オフィスも暗い。

Dark in my office.

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渋谷はビジョンも消え、照明も落ちている。

Ad visions and lights had been off during this period at Shibuya Tokyo.

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今回の震災で我々は様々な教訓を得た。その代わり多くの犠牲を出した。こうした犠牲を無駄にしないためにも、教訓を真剣に受け止める必要がある。我々人間が、欲望によって進歩を得た部分があることを否定しない。しかし地球という限られた場所に生きる上でそろそろ全てが右肩上がりとならない現実を直視する必要があるだろう。

We got various teachings by this earthquake disaster. Instead, many sacrifices were taken out. Also in order not to make such a sacrifice useless, it is necessary to take these teachings earnestly. It does not deny that there is a portion from which we the human beings acquired progress by the desire.

However, it will be necessary to face squarely the reality in which all do not serve as an upward rise soon, when living at a limited place called the earth.

 

Newspaper 12 Mar 2012.